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Rapid Reaction: Minnesota Timberwolves 120, Houston Rockets 108

Minnesota Timberwolves 120 Final
Recap | Box Score
108 Houston Rockets
Luis Scola, PF 20 MIN | 2-8 FG | 4-6 FT | 1 REB | 3 AST | 8 PTS | -8

His second matchup with Kevin Love in a single week was a nightmare. The two are so blatantly headed in different directions, it’s a sad sight to see.

Chandler Parsons, F 33 MIN | 4-10 FG | 0-2 FT | 1 REB | 2 AST | 9 PTS | -14

The normally active Parsons was a shell of himself tonight. Possibly due to his task of defending Beasley on an island for extended stretches of time. Also, he can’t make free-throws.

Samuel Dalembert, C 28 MIN | 2-5 FG | 2-2 FT | 8 REB | 1 AST | 6 PTS | -19

However Sammy Dalembert plays defense dictates ultimately dictates how the Houston Rockets play defense, and tonight the barometer was tapped out. He IS the weak side help on most possessions, and tonight it simply never came.

Kevin Martin, SG 34 MIN | 9-15 FG | 7-11 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 29 PTS | -16

29 points in 34 minutes is marvelous. Martin did his job yet again, and played some tough defense to boot.

Kyle Lowry, PG 26 MIN | 5-10 FG | 1-1 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 11 PTS | -14

The slump continues. I’m now at the point where I’ve got to ask if he’s seriously hurt because the combination of almost no fourth quarter minutes with a constant tentativeness to attack the basket is just so out of character. Judging it relative to this past week, Lowry went from the second best point guard in the Western Conference to the second best point guard on his own team.

Courtney Lee, SG 22 MIN | 3-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 9 PTS | +2

Lee was a bit undersized in his matchup with Michael Beasley, but still, he allowed him to go left on several occasions. Left and straight to the basket.

Goran Dragic, PG 24 MIN | 2-10 FG | 3-4 FT | 2 REB | 9 AST | 7 PTS | 0

With Lowry struggling to make plays, Dragic continues to thrive as a consistent spark plug. He penetrated at will, and had several drop off passes leading to simple layups for teammates.

Four Things We Saw

  1. As Michael Beasley began to heat up early in the second quarter, I made a note of Kevin McHale’s quick decision to throw timely double teams at him. The strategy worked; I noted the coach as a genius. Then the rest of the game happened, and Houston refused to double Beasley again until he’d scored over 30 points. Guarding a player whose loud talents have taken a considerable backseat to the Love/Rubio van ride of good vibes, Houston’s defense was deplorable.
  2. The Rockets gave up 42 points in the third quarter. That’s a franchise high for Minnesota. To surmise it with quick analysis: the defense was shoddy.
  3. Have I mentioned that the Rockets didn’t play defense tonight? Minnesota shot 58% from the floor, scoring their 100th point with 9:30 left in the fourth quarter. It was disgusting.
  4. Houston started the fourth quarter with a VERY small, but effective lineup. Dragic, Lee, Patterson, Parsons, and Budinger. They were anything but slow and dull.

Twitter: @ShakyAnkles






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